TO HIM THAT OVERCOMETH
It is comforting to think that, what one need to do is to ask Jesus to come into his soul, forgive his sins and get redeemed. In addition to the forgiveness of sins, this believer is promised to get help in every time of need through the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Phil 2:13, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. That the work of our salvation is such that we need help and such help as God only can impart, to encourage and sustain us, to do His Will for His own purpose and take us to heaven when we die.
But to assume that heaven is guaranteed when one confesses Jesus is assuming too much. Many today have been taught that faith alone, or just believing in Jesus or giving our heart to the Lord is all that is needed for salvation. It is presumptuous to believe Jesus is obligated to bestow upon every believer a character suitable for heaven. If it were to be so then all the ten virgins would have been accepted, because they were all believers. It is so easy to believe what we want, rather than what the Bible teaches.
The devil also would have encouraged all of his followers to accept Jesus, by which he could fill heaven with his unregenerate cohorts. Then Heaven would be as corrupt as the earth is. Didn't the devil sow tares in God’s wheat field (Matt 13:24-30), hoping to send his tares also to heaven. When separating the sheep from the goats at the end of the age, the basis of judgment will not be merely belief in Jesus, but how good one has got transformed to the image of Christ, leaving the carnal nature behind.
Many believers think, that the Father Jehovah, the Lord God of Israel is a stern, cruel, ruthless and merciless monarch, whereas His Son Jesus, is the very opposite: a kind, loving and merciful Person. The Son is wiser than his Father: and that he would make a better king than his Father. The Son never gets angry and that he is incapable of punishing even the worst of sinners. Everyone, they naively suppose, will somehow make it to the Kingdom of Heaven and be saved. How terribly wrong they are.
Phil 2:12, Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. That is, serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling (Psa 2:11). Phil 3:10-11, That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Phil l 3:14, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 1 Cor 9:27, But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. How could he be a castaway if heaven was guaranteed to every believer?
2 Tim 4:6-8, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day. Paul gave three reasons why he believed he had a crown of righteousness; all these three are essential along with his initial acceptance of Jesus as his Savior. 1Jn 5:4, For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. Overcoming our carnal nature and adopting the character of God (spiritual) is of critical importance.
OVERCOMING THE CARNAL NATURE:
Carnal human nature, with the works of the flesh, is described by Paul in Galatians 5:19-21: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Rom 8:13-15, For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:8-10, So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Gal 5:22-24, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. God is creating his own spiritual children from mankind. Rom 8:16, The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.
Being the children of God they are privileged to get the daily spiritual food from the Word of God through the help of the Holy Spirit, and by eating the spiritual food they get strengthened spiritually to overcome the carnal human nature and replace it with the character of God and Jesus Christ. Eph 2:10, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
EATING THE WORD:
Jeremiah 15:16, Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. To find the word of God means not only to understand it, but to appropriate it as belonging to ourselves. If we learn to enjoy the word of God by discovering that we have a part and lot in it, we perceive that the Lord is calling us and blessing us, and then have we found His Word.
It is a great thing to find God’s word, and discern it for ourselves. Many have heard it for years and yet have never found it. Eyes have they, but they see not: ears have they, but they hear not. Content with the outward letter of the Scriptures, the spiritual meaning is hid from their eyes. They have never felt that its truths proceed immediately from the throne of God, and bear the sign-manual of the King of kings. Hence they have never felt the weight of authority with which its authorship impresses holy writ. Finding God’s word is searching all the while for the hidden spiritual sense, which is indeed the voice of God.
The phrase eating the Word signifies more than any other word could express. It implies that he who loves the Savior desires to grow in knowledge of his great Redeemer. He turns to the holy page with ever new delight; he meditates in God’s law, both day and night and hungers and thirsts after His righteousness. He will be greedy for the truth. His soul would hunger even to ravenousness to be fed upon the bread of heaven.
1Co 2:14, The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. For many carnal minds the Bible is a tantalizing riddle till they get the key; but the clue once found, the volume of our Father’s grace absorbs our attention, delights our intellect, and enriches our spiritual being.
Col 1:27, To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. The mystery which was hid from ages is a secret something which flesh and blood cannot reveal unto us. The chosen of God dig into the mines of revelation, believing that surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they find it; therefore they give their hearts to meditation, and cry mightily unto God to reveal Himself unto them.
HEAVEN IS FOR THE OVERCOMERS:
Matt 7:14,21, Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matt 10:37-39, He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Luke 14:33, So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. John 15:2, Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 1 Cor 9:24, Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
2 Pet 1:5-9, For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are ours and are increasing, they keep us from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Isa 5:24, Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. God is seeking pure gold. That is what the refiner does; he removes the dross from the gold in the heated crucible. When the gold is pure, it will reflect His image.
GOLDEN PROMISES:
1Cor 3:16, Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. I Cor 2:12, Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Rom 8:1, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
1John 3:2, We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. To see God in heaven we are required to get transformed to be like Him. John had seen His glory on the mount when he was transfigured; and this we find was ineffably grand; but even this must have been partially obscured, in order to enable the disciples to bear the sight, for they were not then like Him. But when they shall be like Him, they shall see Him as He is - in all the splendor of His infinite majesty.
Jas 2:24, You see that a person receives God’s approval because of what he does, not only because of what he believes. Rev 3:11, Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Also in the Book of Revelation is the record of seven Spirits of God confirming many more promises to him that overcometh. Yet not one of these promises is given to mere believers in Jesus-all must be overcoming believers.
FRUIT OF THE TREE OF LIFE:
Rev. 2:7, To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. This tree of life is the same tree which was in the Garden of Eden. Gen 2:9, And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God made the tree of life to grow in the midst of the garden; and by eating the fruit of this tree the immortality of Adam was to be secured.
Gen 3:22, behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever. So when Adam transgressed, he was expelled from this garden, and no more permitted to eat of the tree of life. This tree, is secured and restored to man by the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Christ.
Jesus Christ himself is this tree of life, because he is the author of life, natural, spiritual, and eternal is offered to the overcomers for their eternal life. This fruit is going to be soul quickening, comforting, strengthening, and satisfying. Also Christ, under the name of spiritual wisdom, is called the Tree of life in Pro 3:18; and this is a name which is sometimes given by the Jews to the Messiah.
To him who continues steadfast in the faith, and uncorrupt in his life; who faithfully confesses Jesus, and neither imbibes the doctrines nor is led away by the error of the wicked; will I give to eat of the tree of life. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manners of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations (Rev 22:2).
CROWN OF LIFE:
Rev 2:10, Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days; be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Crown is a wreath or garland, or any ornamental fillet encircling the head, especially as a reward of victory or mark of honorable distinction; the royal badge of kings; the sacerdotal badge of priests; the prize winner’s badge of victory.
James 1:12, Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. So this crown is referred to as the martyr’s crown. The endurance and love go hand in hand; we cannot endure without the divine love. It is the same love that is described in I Corinthians, chapter 13, which we know has one characteristic of a love that endureth all things. Perhaps the reason we buckle under, perhaps the reason we yield before we have been sufficiently tried, is that we do not love Him as we ought to love Him.
Temptation sometimes means a solicitation to evil: that is, we are tempted to commit murder, or tempted to commit adultery. Sometimes it is a reference to a test that God permits us to go through in order to determine the kind of metal of which we are made. Also, a solicitation to evil is something that causes us a great deal of suffering. Why are these tribulations and trials come into our lives? The first and the foremost may be that we are living in a world that is occupied and dominated by the Devil, the prince of this world.
There is another reason why testing comes into our lives is because of our relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. As believers in Christ, Jesus sends us into the world to make disciples for Him, but He wants to make sure that the world doesn’t make disciples of us first. This is why sometimes He allows us to experience certain ways of the world, in all of its brokenness and moral depravity, so that we know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, where those roads lead.
I Peter 4:12-13, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. We enjoy His salvation and hence there is no way to escape His suffering. That is the reason He says, elsewhere, If ye suffer with me, ye shall also reign with me (II Tim 2:12).
Also each of us is working out our own salvation and slowly being made perfect like Jesus through suffering. This means that our suffering is not in vain, that there is a purpose behind it. Job 23:10, But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. So when Job proclaims that he will be as gold, he is foreshadowing the gold standard of human expression and achievement - Christ Jesus. Just as the refiner knows his gold is ready when he can see his face in it, we’ll know that we’re becoming more like Him when others can see Jesus Christ through us.
Isaiah 48:10, Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. These people who go through the furnace of affliction are those who are ready to come to forefront of the Warfield to fight the enemy who is the devil. 1 Peter 1:7, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Col 1:24, Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: Php 3:10, That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.
I Cor 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. God does make the way of escape, and when He does make the way to escape there is no harm in our taking it. If He makes the way of escape, we shall not make the way of escape. No matter how trying the circumstances might be, an individual should not take his own life but endure temptation.
James 1:3-4, knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. The reason why most of us are imperfect, the reason why most of us are spiritually immature, the reason why most of us lack a great many things, is that we do not stay under the temptation. We do not endure. We get out from under it just as quickly as we can.
The Bible talks about different kinds of crowns: crown of righteousness, crown of life, crown of glory, the crown of rejoicing and the incorruptible crown. These crowns are also promised to believers as rewards who overcome the world, the flesh, and Satan.
The incorruptible crown: 1 Cor. 9:24, 25. This is also called the imperishable crown. This crown is given to believers who faithfully run the race, who crucify every selfish desire in the flesh and point men to Jesus.
The crown of rejoicing: 1 Thess. 2:19, 20. To those who are faithful witnesses to the saving grace of God and leading people to Christ. Hence it has been named the soul winner’s crown.
The crown of righteousness: 2 Tim. 4:8. To those who love the appearing of Christ, who anxiously await and look forward to the day when He will return for His saints. This crown is given to those who have lived a good and righteous life for God on earth.
The crown of glory: 1 Pet. 5:1-4. This is the crown of shepherds and ministers who faithfully feed the flock of God. This crown of glory does not fade away as the withering garlands of wild olive, ivy, or parsley, given to the victors in the games.
NO SECOND DEATH:
Rev. 2:11, He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. The punishment of hell is called second death. Physical death cuts off from our earthly life and so the second death cuts off from eternal life; death puts an end to all our hopes here, and the second death to all our hopes forever. The phrase, the second death, is used in three other places by John in Rev 20:6, 14; 21:8. The words death and to die, are used frequently to denote the future punishment of the wicked.
Rev 20:14-15, Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Rev 21:7-8, But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
The first death is painful. It is often ugly. But the second death, the lake of fire, is more painful – for all eternity. It harms or hurts those who experience it (Rev. 2:11). This same verb is used in the New Testament to describe physical (Luke 10:19) and spiritual (Col. 3:25) harm. In Revelation it is a synonym for torment (cf. Rev. 9:4, 5; 20:10). Those who are under the control of evil are tormented by it (cf. Matt. 8:29).
This second death is God’s instrument in the eradication of sin, sinners, Satan, and death from the universe (Rev. 20:10, 14; 21:8). The second death is fundamentally different from natural death. Sin and death entered into the world together, and they will be extinguished from it together along with the evil powers.
It is a process that brings sinful life to an end (Rev. 20:10, 14). Sinners will be completely aware of the fact that they are going through that which will separate them from God forever. This process culminates in the inevitable and inescapable cessation of the life of unrepentant sinners. It stops its work only when nothing is left of sinners and sin.
Finally, the second death is legally right and it does have a claim against the wicked. It isn’t an expression of divine arbitrariness, but an expression of a legal penalty or retribution (Col 3:25). It serves to reveal the justice of God’s judgments (Rev 19:1-3). The second death is thus eternal punishment, having the wrath of God on sinners forever and ever.
But the one faithful unto first death (physical death) need not fear that second death. Jesus says, we are not going to be hurt by the second death (Rev 20:6). And if we overcome, if we conquer this temptation to fear and doubt, we will not be hurt at all by the second death. For those who overcome, the first death is the door to life with God. The second death has no power or authority over the righteous.
The promise here made would be all that was necessary to sustain them in their trials. Nothing more is requisite to make the burdens of life tolerable than an assurance that, when we reach the end of our earthly journey, we have arrived at the close of suffering, and that beyond the grave there is no power that can harm us. Religion, indeed, can not promise to its friends exemption from death in one form. To none of the race has such a promise ever been made, but for the overcomer has the favor been granted to pass to heaven without tasting second death.
HIDDEN MANNA:
Rev. 2:17, To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna. The true spiritual food: the food that nourishes the soul. The idea is, that the souls of those who overcome, or who gained the victory in their conflict with sin, and in the persecutions and trials of the devil, would be permitted to partake of that spiritual food which is laid up, by which they will be nourished forever.
We all associate manna with God’s provision of food for the Israelites, while they were in the wilderness (Exo 16:16-35). A pot of that manna was laid up in the most holy place, to be preserved as a memorial (Exo 16:32-34). It is called angels food (Psa 78:25) and corn of heaven (Psa 78:24). This is emblematical of that spiritual food by which the people of God are to be fed from heaven, in their spiritual journey through the wilderness of this world, from the immediate presence of God which their souls require. In heaven it will be their constant food forever.
However, this perception of God’s provision in the wilderness was also used by Jesus in reply to the Jews’ request for a sign that He was the true manna sent by God. The Jews compared God’s provision of manna through Moses to Jesus’ provision of bread from the five loaves and two fish and failed to see God’s miracle through Jesus, as the bread of eternal life. Jesus’ miracle (feeding of the five thousand) was not enough to convince them He was sent by God. They wanted a greater miraculous sign.
In the days of the desert, the Israelites did not appreciate God’s provision of daily bread and wished it was something other than what it was. Jesus was referring to their rejection of God’s provision for life. Even as the Israelites rejected God’s manna from heaven, they also rejected Jesus as God’s manna from heaven. Therefore, He was not God’s provision of eternal life for them, as stated in John 6:41, at this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, I am the bread that came down from heaven.
John 6: 27, 33, Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. John 6:35, 51, I am the bread of life: your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that he who eateth thereof may not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread he shall live forever.
When Jesus stated He was the true bread from heaven He was using God’s provision of manna in the desert as a metaphor or foreshadow of God’s provision of eternal life through Him as their Messiah. Jesus Christ is the Manna for all our needs in our time in the desert! Whether our needs are, emotional, physical, spiritual or whatever it may be, Christ Jesus is the answer. Luke 4:3-4, And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
The manna typified Christ, the bread of life. He is the Word of God; by Him we live. John 6:53-55 Then Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. His flesh is the literal word and we are required to eat His flesh with His blood. This blood is the life in the Word. Therefore it is a must to eat the Word with life which is the real spiritual food (hidden manna) for our spiritual being.
WHITE STONE AND A NEW NAME:
Rev. 2:17, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. It is, that the Saviour would give him who overcame a token of his favor which would have the name inscribed on it, and which would be of use to him alone, or intelligible to him only: that is, some secret token which would make him sure of the favor of his Redeemer. This is the evidences of his favor granted to the soul of the Christian himself; in the pledge of heaven thus made to him.
The white stone among the Greeks, was a symbol of good fortune and prosperity; and it is a remarkable circumstance that, persons of distinguished virtue were said to receive a stone, from the gods, that is, as an approving testimonial of their virtue.
The name written on this stone would be designed also as a token or pledge of his favor - as a name engraved on a signet or seal would be a pledge to him who received it of friendship. It would also indicate its origin, with the name of the giver on it. This would appropriately denote, that the victor would be assured from the Redeemer, who distributes rewards, that his welfare would be secure.
In judgments votes were collected by stones, and by white stones those which were affirmative of truths and truths favoring good. They are also united to good, because good invites and unites them to itself; for all good loves truth and conjoins to itself such as agrees with itself. These are meant by those who have the law written in their hearts.
And in the stone a new name written, signifies that thus they will have good of a quality such as they had not before. That “name” signifies the quality of a thing, may be seen in, therefore here the quality of good. All the quality of good is from the truths that are united to it; for good without truths is like bread and food without wine and water, which do not nourish; and also like fruit in which there is no juice.
ROD OF IRON:
Rev. 2:26-27, And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken in shivers: even as I received of my Father.
A scepter was sometimes made of wood, sometimes of gold, sometimes of ivory, and sometimes of iron. This is an ornamental rod held in the hand as a symbol of regal or imperial dignity or sovereignty and authority. There is also a charge representing such a rod.
Moses, Aaron and the kings used the scepter made of wood. When a king died his scepter of wood was broken showing the end of his reign. This Rod of Iron is different from the Rod of Wood which can never be broken. Like the king’s scepter, the Rod of God is a symbol of spiritual authority. This authority comes, from Jehovah Himself. It is a gift of God.
The rod given to Moses was to do signs. Exo 4: 2-4, And the Lord said unto him, what is that in thine hand? And he said, a rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the Lord said unto Moses, put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand. Exo 4: 17, And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.
As we can see from Num 17: 6,8,10, the rod is also used to judge, reprove and discipline. In Revelation 5:10 Christians are described as being made kings and priests to our God; and they shall reign on the earth. Daniel 7:27, the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.
If God just needed every believer to wield iron rods, He would have no need of His saints. What He needs are those who have spent their lives developing the character of Jesus Christ–those who can be trusted to exercise great power with firmness and justice. The rod of iron represents the power that is from God given to the overcomers to run a government of strength, with which the Satan and his agents are effectually subdued.
Psa 2:9, Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. So heavily did the iron rod of God’s judgments fall upon them for their obstinate unbelief. Rev 12:5, And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. A key lesson of Revelation 2:26-27 is that the glorified saints are linked with the above scriptures.
MORNING STAR:
Rev 2:26, 28, And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations. And I will give him the morning star. The dawning of any calendar day does not burst forth abruptly. From darkness to light, before the dawn breaks, the morning star begins to shine on the eastern horizon. The morning star not only proceeds, but that it is also the harbinger of the day.
This unique morning star is not an actual star at all, it is the planet Venus. In the morning it is situated in our sky above the eastern horizon, appearing at the right place and at the right time to see the sun and announce to those in darkness, the day is soon at hand. The morning star is a small, yet brilliant preview of the light which is about to come. The picture of the morning star serves well the biblical image of what God seeks to do with the true church at the end of the age.
2 Peter 1:19, So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. Peter speaks of the “morning star” rising in the hearts of God’s people before the Lord returns. We can see the glory (the living presence of God) in the overcomer increasingly manifesting itself.
So, when we speak of the morning star, it is the actual spiritual wattage of God’s presence or God’s glory increasing in the overcomers. We know that such luminescence does not emanate from ourselves; it comes from our union with the Lord Jesus, and it is worked in us through the Holy Spirit as we grow into full conformity with Christ’s image and His Words.
These overcomers will be positioned, like the morning star - in the right place at the right time - and they will herald Christ’s return. They will come from every nation, people, tribe and tongue, yet they will be one, for Christ will have given them His glory (John 17:22). Isaiah 60:1, Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
It will be seen therefore that the overcomer possesses two present blessings as his stay and support, while waging conflict with the powers of evil and corruption around and holding fast what he has in expectation of the Lord’s return. The first is, the light of the coming sovereignty of our Lord over the kingdoms of this world (see Rev. 11: 15), and of his own association with Christ in that day; and, secondly, the gift of the morning star.
There is no interval indicated between the Morning Star and the Sun of righteousness shining forth in His strength. As the beauteous rays of the morning star can be often discerned in the heavens even while the sun is arising above the eastern horizon. Before the glory of the Sun of righteousness would shine upon the morning star, God will keep them from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth (Rev. 3: 10).
WHITE RAIMENT AND THE BOOK OF LIFE:
Rev 3:5, He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
This white raiment represents justification. It is a robe without a spot perfect and Royal; whiter than any white we’ve ever seen. It is Christ’s robe of righteousness, and it comes to us through Him. He is able to impute to us, His righteousness, which is to us justification. This imputation of our Savior’s righteousness is for those who prove themselves overcomers- or more than conquerors.
The Lord has arranged that at the conclusion of our trial, and at the end of the present life, all the overcomers shall receive a new body. This new body will be a body of actual purity. Thus, as the Apostle says, we shall be clothed upon with our House which is from Heaven. At the resurrection we shall receive that body of inherent purity, without blemish, without spot, for which this robe of righteousness is a must.
2 Co 3:18, But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. It is not a matter of favoritism, but of character-development. The overcomers will have such characters that the Lord will not be ashamed of them, but will be pleased to own them in the presence of the Father and the holy angels. So, the Lord says, I will confess their names before My Father and before His angels.
More than this, we read that the Lord will not blot out their names out of the Book of Life, in which are written the names of all those who become truly the Lord’s people, those who have made with the Lord a covenant by sacrifice, all who renounce their wills, who present their bodies a living sacrifice and demonstrate their loyalty.
Rev 20:14-15, And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is not a good place to spend eternity. Yet, if they do not become the overcomers, their names will be blotted out of that Book of Life, and anyone whose name is not written in the book of life will spend eternity in the lake of fire.
Everyone should be positive (beyond all doubt) that their name is written in the book of life. Multitudes have been deceived throughout the ages, and many are still being deceived today. It may be too late before they discover, that their names were not written in the book of life. How can a person know that they have eternal life? In John 3:5-6, Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 1:13, which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. The natural birth introduces us to life. The new birth is the beginning of spiritual life, so to be born of God is to be introduced to the spiritual life, to light, to happiness, and to the favor of God. This new birth, or, to the great change in the sinner is the regeneration of his spiritual being. 1Jn 2:29, If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. The new birth doesn’t come because they were the children of Jews or because they were descended from pious parents. God is the only One who can cause a person to become born again.
PILLAR OF THE TEMPLE:
Rev. 3:12, Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, and I will write upon him my new name. A name indicating a new promise, new hopes and triumphs.
In the ancient Greek world, it was customary to place a pillar in a temple in order to honor a dignitary. Thus John is not in contradiction to the later statement omitting a Temple; rather, he may be implying that the New Jerusalem is something of a Temple itself. By comparison with all earthly Temples, including the Millennial Temple, the New Jerusalem is unique. Earthly Temples had restrictions, even for the righteous, and hid the Shekinah in an innermost chamber away from all human sight.
The New Jerusalem is exceptional in that it has no such limitations, and God’s servants shall see His face (Rev 22:4). This clearly indicates a new access without the previous restrictions given in Exo 33:20: “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” The text explains that the reason this is possible is because the New Jerusalem cannot be defiled from within by sin because there is no curse there (Rev 22:3), nor from without, since no unclean person can enter (Rev 21:27).
Furthermore when a righteous person leaves a place, it leaves an impression. While he is in a city, he is its splendor and glory, and when he leaves it, so too does its splendor and glory leave. We learn that the righteous person is the foundation of the world (Pro 10:25). They represent the pillars upon which the entire world stands, and even if mankind does not recognize and acknowledge this, Heaven does, and it is Heaven that calls the shots in history.
Though it is true that tzaddikim act as a form of atonement for the generation that survives them (Moed Katan 28a), nevertheless the loss leaves a gaping hole in the spiritual fabric of society, thereby endangering the world in general. Historically, something always seems to go wrong in a big way after the passing of a great Torah leader.
THRONE:
Rev. 3:21, To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
We have expressed the fact that we are in the Royal Family of God. As royalty Jesus will give us the right to sit with Him on His throne as he overcame and sat down with God in His throne. Php 2:8,9, And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.
Christ himself had met with his temptations and conflicts and he overcame them all, and was more than a conqueror. That, as the reward of his conflict and victory, he has sat down with God the Father on his throne. That those who are conformed to Christ in His trials and victories shall be conformed to Him in His glory; they shall sit down with Him on His throne, on His throne of judgment at the end of the world, on His throne of glory to all eternity, shining in His beams by virtue of their union with Him and relation to Him, as the mystical body of which He is the head.
Even the thrones of kings and queens of this world are only for a short time. Our thrones, crowns and dominion will be forever. In every case it is to him that overcometh, to the conqueror, that the final promise is made. Christ’s throne and the throne of the Father is the same; and it is on this same throne that those who are faithful unto death are finally to sit! How astonishing is this state of exaltation! The dignity and grandeur of it; who can conceive?
SONS AND DAUGHTERS:
Rev 21:7, He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son, which is the same as walking after the Spirit, as opposed to walking after the flesh (Rom1:17). Significantly, the fullness of eternal inheritance at the end of this age will be realized by him that overcometh.
The word overcometh is translated from the Greek word Nikao and means to subdue. Prevailed at (Rev. 5:5); Conquer at (Rev. 6:2); and gotten the victory at (Rev. 15:2). While there is opposition to the way of the Lord, both, from within and from without, God has provided in Christ sufficient grace to overcome such opposition, not by struggling in the flesh, but through walking after the Spirit (Gal 5:16);walking in the light (1 Jon 1:7); living by faith (Rom 1:17). Faith is an inward posture of devotion and commitment to the Lord that rests on knowledge acquired by the Holy Spirit’s ministry to us in God’s Word (Rom 10:17).
Christ dwells in us by the Holy Spirit whose purpose is to lead us according to God’s thoughts by: enlightenment through the scriptures spiritual understanding; granting wisdom to discern, both, God’s will and how to accomplish it-Col 1:9. Rom 8:14, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:17, And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Saints don’t worry about what they are going through. Just fight the good fight of faith and wait until the change comes. The trials we face don’t last always. It is for a season. If we suffer with Christ we shall rule with Him. Fight on through the light afflictions which are only for a moment. Quit complaining and start rejoicing in the Lord. He has done great things for us.
THE GREAT COMPANY:
Two classes of overcomers who build upon the Rock which is Christ. 1 Cor 3:12-15, Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Both classes build upon the Rock which is Christ. One class builds with the biblical truth of gold, silver and precious stones. Such works stands the test of God’s consuming fire. However, another class builds their structure with wood, hay and stubble, representing perhaps vain traditions and philosophies of men. Yes, they are full of good intentions and they do build upon the Rock. God in mercy exposes their folly as their structures disintegrate in the fire.
Revelation 7:14-15, speaks of those which come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. Rev. 19:9, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. Mat 25:34, Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
It is comforting to think that, what one need to do is to ask Jesus to come into his soul, forgive his sins and get redeemed. In addition to the forgiveness of sins, this believer is promised to get help in every time of need through the gift of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:38). Phil 2:13, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. That the work of our salvation is such that we need help and such help as God only can impart, to encourage and sustain us, to do His Will for His own purpose and take us to heaven when we die.
But to assume that heaven is guaranteed when one confesses Jesus is assuming too much. Many today have been taught that faith alone, or just believing in Jesus or giving our heart to the Lord is all that is needed for salvation. It is presumptuous to believe Jesus is obligated to bestow upon every believer a character suitable for heaven. If it were to be so then all the ten virgins would have been accepted, because they were all believers. It is so easy to believe what we want, rather than what the Bible teaches.
The devil also would have encouraged all of his followers to accept Jesus, by which he could fill heaven with his unregenerate cohorts. Then Heaven would be as corrupt as the earth is. Didn't the devil sow tares in God’s wheat field (Matt 13:24-30), hoping to send his tares also to heaven. When separating the sheep from the goats at the end of the age, the basis of judgment will not be merely belief in Jesus, but how good one has got transformed to the image of Christ, leaving the carnal nature behind.
Many believers think, that the Father Jehovah, the Lord God of Israel is a stern, cruel, ruthless and merciless monarch, whereas His Son Jesus, is the very opposite: a kind, loving and merciful Person. The Son is wiser than his Father: and that he would make a better king than his Father. The Son never gets angry and that he is incapable of punishing even the worst of sinners. Everyone, they naively suppose, will somehow make it to the Kingdom of Heaven and be saved. How terribly wrong they are.
Phil 2:12, Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. That is, serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling (Psa 2:11). Phil 3:10-11, That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
Phil l 3:14, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 1 Cor 9:27, But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway. How could he be a castaway if heaven was guaranteed to every believer?
2 Tim 4:6-8, I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day. Paul gave three reasons why he believed he had a crown of righteousness; all these three are essential along with his initial acceptance of Jesus as his Savior. 1Jn 5:4, For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. Overcoming our carnal nature and adopting the character of God (spiritual) is of critical importance.
OVERCOMING THE CARNAL NATURE:
Carnal human nature, with the works of the flesh, is described by Paul in Galatians 5:19-21: Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envying, murders, drunkenness, reveling, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Rom 8:13-15, For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
Rom 8:8-10, So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Gal 5:22-24, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. God is creating his own spiritual children from mankind. Rom 8:16, The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.
Being the children of God they are privileged to get the daily spiritual food from the Word of God through the help of the Holy Spirit, and by eating the spiritual food they get strengthened spiritually to overcome the carnal human nature and replace it with the character of God and Jesus Christ. Eph 2:10, For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
EATING THE WORD:
Jeremiah 15:16, Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O Lord God of hosts. To find the word of God means not only to understand it, but to appropriate it as belonging to ourselves. If we learn to enjoy the word of God by discovering that we have a part and lot in it, we perceive that the Lord is calling us and blessing us, and then have we found His Word.
It is a great thing to find God’s word, and discern it for ourselves. Many have heard it for years and yet have never found it. Eyes have they, but they see not: ears have they, but they hear not. Content with the outward letter of the Scriptures, the spiritual meaning is hid from their eyes. They have never felt that its truths proceed immediately from the throne of God, and bear the sign-manual of the King of kings. Hence they have never felt the weight of authority with which its authorship impresses holy writ. Finding God’s word is searching all the while for the hidden spiritual sense, which is indeed the voice of God.
The phrase eating the Word signifies more than any other word could express. It implies that he who loves the Savior desires to grow in knowledge of his great Redeemer. He turns to the holy page with ever new delight; he meditates in God’s law, both day and night and hungers and thirsts after His righteousness. He will be greedy for the truth. His soul would hunger even to ravenousness to be fed upon the bread of heaven.
1Co 2:14, The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. For many carnal minds the Bible is a tantalizing riddle till they get the key; but the clue once found, the volume of our Father’s grace absorbs our attention, delights our intellect, and enriches our spiritual being.
Col 1:27, To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. The mystery which was hid from ages is a secret something which flesh and blood cannot reveal unto us. The chosen of God dig into the mines of revelation, believing that surely there is a vein for the silver, and a place for gold where they find it; therefore they give their hearts to meditation, and cry mightily unto God to reveal Himself unto them.
HEAVEN IS FOR THE OVERCOMERS:
Matt 7:14,21, Strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Matt 10:37-39, He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it.
Luke 14:33, So likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple. John 15:2, Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. 1 Cor 9:24, Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
2 Pet 1:5-9, For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are ours and are increasing, they keep us from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Isa 5:24, Therefore as the fire devoureth the stubble, and the flame consumeth the chaff, so their root shall be as rottenness, and their blossom shall go up as dust: because they have cast away the law of the Lord of hosts, and despised the word of the Holy One of Israel. God is seeking pure gold. That is what the refiner does; he removes the dross from the gold in the heated crucible. When the gold is pure, it will reflect His image.
GOLDEN PROMISES:
1Cor 3:16, Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you. I Cor 2:12, Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Rom 8:1, There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
1John 3:2, We shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. To see God in heaven we are required to get transformed to be like Him. John had seen His glory on the mount when he was transfigured; and this we find was ineffably grand; but even this must have been partially obscured, in order to enable the disciples to bear the sight, for they were not then like Him. But when they shall be like Him, they shall see Him as He is - in all the splendor of His infinite majesty.
Jas 2:24, You see that a person receives God’s approval because of what he does, not only because of what he believes. Rev 3:11, Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Also in the Book of Revelation is the record of seven Spirits of God confirming many more promises to him that overcometh. Yet not one of these promises is given to mere believers in Jesus-all must be overcoming believers.
FRUIT OF THE TREE OF LIFE:
Rev. 2:7, To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. This tree of life is the same tree which was in the Garden of Eden. Gen 2:9, And out of the ground made the Lord God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil. God made the tree of life to grow in the midst of the garden; and by eating the fruit of this tree the immortality of Adam was to be secured.
Gen 3:22, behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live forever. So when Adam transgressed, he was expelled from this garden, and no more permitted to eat of the tree of life. This tree, is secured and restored to man by the incarnation, death, and resurrection of Christ.
Jesus Christ himself is this tree of life, because he is the author of life, natural, spiritual, and eternal is offered to the overcomers for their eternal life. This fruit is going to be soul quickening, comforting, strengthening, and satisfying. Also Christ, under the name of spiritual wisdom, is called the Tree of life in Pro 3:18; and this is a name which is sometimes given by the Jews to the Messiah.
To him who continues steadfast in the faith, and uncorrupt in his life; who faithfully confesses Jesus, and neither imbibes the doctrines nor is led away by the error of the wicked; will I give to eat of the tree of life. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manners of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations (Rev 22:2).
CROWN OF LIFE:
Rev 2:10, Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days; be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life. Crown is a wreath or garland, or any ornamental fillet encircling the head, especially as a reward of victory or mark of honorable distinction; the royal badge of kings; the sacerdotal badge of priests; the prize winner’s badge of victory.
James 1:12, Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. So this crown is referred to as the martyr’s crown. The endurance and love go hand in hand; we cannot endure without the divine love. It is the same love that is described in I Corinthians, chapter 13, which we know has one characteristic of a love that endureth all things. Perhaps the reason we buckle under, perhaps the reason we yield before we have been sufficiently tried, is that we do not love Him as we ought to love Him.
Temptation sometimes means a solicitation to evil: that is, we are tempted to commit murder, or tempted to commit adultery. Sometimes it is a reference to a test that God permits us to go through in order to determine the kind of metal of which we are made. Also, a solicitation to evil is something that causes us a great deal of suffering. Why are these tribulations and trials come into our lives? The first and the foremost may be that we are living in a world that is occupied and dominated by the Devil, the prince of this world.
There is another reason why testing comes into our lives is because of our relationship to the Lord Jesus Christ. As believers in Christ, Jesus sends us into the world to make disciples for Him, but He wants to make sure that the world doesn’t make disciples of us first. This is why sometimes He allows us to experience certain ways of the world, in all of its brokenness and moral depravity, so that we know, beyond a shadow of a doubt, where those roads lead.
I Peter 4:12-13, Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you. But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. We enjoy His salvation and hence there is no way to escape His suffering. That is the reason He says, elsewhere, If ye suffer with me, ye shall also reign with me (II Tim 2:12).
Also each of us is working out our own salvation and slowly being made perfect like Jesus through suffering. This means that our suffering is not in vain, that there is a purpose behind it. Job 23:10, But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. So when Job proclaims that he will be as gold, he is foreshadowing the gold standard of human expression and achievement - Christ Jesus. Just as the refiner knows his gold is ready when he can see his face in it, we’ll know that we’re becoming more like Him when others can see Jesus Christ through us.
Isaiah 48:10, Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. These people who go through the furnace of affliction are those who are ready to come to forefront of the Warfield to fight the enemy who is the devil. 1 Peter 1:7, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
Col 1:24, Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body’s sake, which is the church: Php 3:10, That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.
I Cor 10:13, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. God does make the way of escape, and when He does make the way to escape there is no harm in our taking it. If He makes the way of escape, we shall not make the way of escape. No matter how trying the circumstances might be, an individual should not take his own life but endure temptation.
James 1:3-4, knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. The reason why most of us are imperfect, the reason why most of us are spiritually immature, the reason why most of us lack a great many things, is that we do not stay under the temptation. We do not endure. We get out from under it just as quickly as we can.
The Bible talks about different kinds of crowns: crown of righteousness, crown of life, crown of glory, the crown of rejoicing and the incorruptible crown. These crowns are also promised to believers as rewards who overcome the world, the flesh, and Satan.
The incorruptible crown: 1 Cor. 9:24, 25. This is also called the imperishable crown. This crown is given to believers who faithfully run the race, who crucify every selfish desire in the flesh and point men to Jesus.
The crown of rejoicing: 1 Thess. 2:19, 20. To those who are faithful witnesses to the saving grace of God and leading people to Christ. Hence it has been named the soul winner’s crown.
The crown of righteousness: 2 Tim. 4:8. To those who love the appearing of Christ, who anxiously await and look forward to the day when He will return for His saints. This crown is given to those who have lived a good and righteous life for God on earth.
The crown of glory: 1 Pet. 5:1-4. This is the crown of shepherds and ministers who faithfully feed the flock of God. This crown of glory does not fade away as the withering garlands of wild olive, ivy, or parsley, given to the victors in the games.
NO SECOND DEATH:
Rev. 2:11, He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. The punishment of hell is called second death. Physical death cuts off from our earthly life and so the second death cuts off from eternal life; death puts an end to all our hopes here, and the second death to all our hopes forever. The phrase, the second death, is used in three other places by John in Rev 20:6, 14; 21:8. The words death and to die, are used frequently to denote the future punishment of the wicked.
Rev 20:14-15, Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. Rev 21:7-8, But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
The first death is painful. It is often ugly. But the second death, the lake of fire, is more painful – for all eternity. It harms or hurts those who experience it (Rev. 2:11). This same verb is used in the New Testament to describe physical (Luke 10:19) and spiritual (Col. 3:25) harm. In Revelation it is a synonym for torment (cf. Rev. 9:4, 5; 20:10). Those who are under the control of evil are tormented by it (cf. Matt. 8:29).
This second death is God’s instrument in the eradication of sin, sinners, Satan, and death from the universe (Rev. 20:10, 14; 21:8). The second death is fundamentally different from natural death. Sin and death entered into the world together, and they will be extinguished from it together along with the evil powers.
It is a process that brings sinful life to an end (Rev. 20:10, 14). Sinners will be completely aware of the fact that they are going through that which will separate them from God forever. This process culminates in the inevitable and inescapable cessation of the life of unrepentant sinners. It stops its work only when nothing is left of sinners and sin.
Finally, the second death is legally right and it does have a claim against the wicked. It isn’t an expression of divine arbitrariness, but an expression of a legal penalty or retribution (Col 3:25). It serves to reveal the justice of God’s judgments (Rev 19:1-3). The second death is thus eternal punishment, having the wrath of God on sinners forever and ever.
But the one faithful unto first death (physical death) need not fear that second death. Jesus says, we are not going to be hurt by the second death (Rev 20:6). And if we overcome, if we conquer this temptation to fear and doubt, we will not be hurt at all by the second death. For those who overcome, the first death is the door to life with God. The second death has no power or authority over the righteous.
The promise here made would be all that was necessary to sustain them in their trials. Nothing more is requisite to make the burdens of life tolerable than an assurance that, when we reach the end of our earthly journey, we have arrived at the close of suffering, and that beyond the grave there is no power that can harm us. Religion, indeed, can not promise to its friends exemption from death in one form. To none of the race has such a promise ever been made, but for the overcomer has the favor been granted to pass to heaven without tasting second death.
HIDDEN MANNA:
Rev. 2:17, To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna. The true spiritual food: the food that nourishes the soul. The idea is, that the souls of those who overcome, or who gained the victory in their conflict with sin, and in the persecutions and trials of the devil, would be permitted to partake of that spiritual food which is laid up, by which they will be nourished forever.
We all associate manna with God’s provision of food for the Israelites, while they were in the wilderness (Exo 16:16-35). A pot of that manna was laid up in the most holy place, to be preserved as a memorial (Exo 16:32-34). It is called angels food (Psa 78:25) and corn of heaven (Psa 78:24). This is emblematical of that spiritual food by which the people of God are to be fed from heaven, in their spiritual journey through the wilderness of this world, from the immediate presence of God which their souls require. In heaven it will be their constant food forever.
However, this perception of God’s provision in the wilderness was also used by Jesus in reply to the Jews’ request for a sign that He was the true manna sent by God. The Jews compared God’s provision of manna through Moses to Jesus’ provision of bread from the five loaves and two fish and failed to see God’s miracle through Jesus, as the bread of eternal life. Jesus’ miracle (feeding of the five thousand) was not enough to convince them He was sent by God. They wanted a greater miraculous sign.
In the days of the desert, the Israelites did not appreciate God’s provision of daily bread and wished it was something other than what it was. Jesus was referring to their rejection of God’s provision for life. Even as the Israelites rejected God’s manna from heaven, they also rejected Jesus as God’s manna from heaven. Therefore, He was not God’s provision of eternal life for them, as stated in John 6:41, at this the Jews began to grumble about him because he said, I am the bread that came down from heaven.
John 6: 27, 33, Do not work for food that perishes, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval. For the bread of God is he who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. John 6:35, 51, I am the bread of life: your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that he who eateth thereof may not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; if anyone eats of this bread he shall live forever.
When Jesus stated He was the true bread from heaven He was using God’s provision of manna in the desert as a metaphor or foreshadow of God’s provision of eternal life through Him as their Messiah. Jesus Christ is the Manna for all our needs in our time in the desert! Whether our needs are, emotional, physical, spiritual or whatever it may be, Christ Jesus is the answer. Luke 4:3-4, And the devil said unto him, If thou be the Son of God, command this stone that it be made bread. And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, that man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.
The manna typified Christ, the bread of life. He is the Word of God; by Him we live. John 6:53-55 Then Jesus said unto them, verily, verily, I say unto you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. His flesh is the literal word and we are required to eat His flesh with His blood. This blood is the life in the Word. Therefore it is a must to eat the Word with life which is the real spiritual food (hidden manna) for our spiritual being.
WHITE STONE AND A NEW NAME:
Rev. 2:17, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. It is, that the Saviour would give him who overcame a token of his favor which would have the name inscribed on it, and which would be of use to him alone, or intelligible to him only: that is, some secret token which would make him sure of the favor of his Redeemer. This is the evidences of his favor granted to the soul of the Christian himself; in the pledge of heaven thus made to him.
The white stone among the Greeks, was a symbol of good fortune and prosperity; and it is a remarkable circumstance that, persons of distinguished virtue were said to receive a stone, from the gods, that is, as an approving testimonial of their virtue.
The name written on this stone would be designed also as a token or pledge of his favor - as a name engraved on a signet or seal would be a pledge to him who received it of friendship. It would also indicate its origin, with the name of the giver on it. This would appropriately denote, that the victor would be assured from the Redeemer, who distributes rewards, that his welfare would be secure.
In judgments votes were collected by stones, and by white stones those which were affirmative of truths and truths favoring good. They are also united to good, because good invites and unites them to itself; for all good loves truth and conjoins to itself such as agrees with itself. These are meant by those who have the law written in their hearts.
And in the stone a new name written, signifies that thus they will have good of a quality such as they had not before. That “name” signifies the quality of a thing, may be seen in, therefore here the quality of good. All the quality of good is from the truths that are united to it; for good without truths is like bread and food without wine and water, which do not nourish; and also like fruit in which there is no juice.
ROD OF IRON:
Rev. 2:26-27, And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken in shivers: even as I received of my Father.
A scepter was sometimes made of wood, sometimes of gold, sometimes of ivory, and sometimes of iron. This is an ornamental rod held in the hand as a symbol of regal or imperial dignity or sovereignty and authority. There is also a charge representing such a rod.
Moses, Aaron and the kings used the scepter made of wood. When a king died his scepter of wood was broken showing the end of his reign. This Rod of Iron is different from the Rod of Wood which can never be broken. Like the king’s scepter, the Rod of God is a symbol of spiritual authority. This authority comes, from Jehovah Himself. It is a gift of God.
The rod given to Moses was to do signs. Exo 4: 2-4, And the Lord said unto him, what is that in thine hand? And he said, a rod. And he said, Cast it on the ground. And he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from before it. And the Lord said unto Moses, put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand. Exo 4: 17, And thou shalt take this rod in thine hand, wherewith thou shalt do signs.
As we can see from Num 17: 6,8,10, the rod is also used to judge, reprove and discipline. In Revelation 5:10 Christians are described as being made kings and priests to our God; and they shall reign on the earth. Daniel 7:27, the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people, the saints of the Most High.
If God just needed every believer to wield iron rods, He would have no need of His saints. What He needs are those who have spent their lives developing the character of Jesus Christ–those who can be trusted to exercise great power with firmness and justice. The rod of iron represents the power that is from God given to the overcomers to run a government of strength, with which the Satan and his agents are effectually subdued.
Psa 2:9, Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel. So heavily did the iron rod of God’s judgments fall upon them for their obstinate unbelief. Rev 12:5, And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. A key lesson of Revelation 2:26-27 is that the glorified saints are linked with the above scriptures.
MORNING STAR:
Rev 2:26, 28, And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations. And I will give him the morning star. The dawning of any calendar day does not burst forth abruptly. From darkness to light, before the dawn breaks, the morning star begins to shine on the eastern horizon. The morning star not only proceeds, but that it is also the harbinger of the day.
This unique morning star is not an actual star at all, it is the planet Venus. In the morning it is situated in our sky above the eastern horizon, appearing at the right place and at the right time to see the sun and announce to those in darkness, the day is soon at hand. The morning star is a small, yet brilliant preview of the light which is about to come. The picture of the morning star serves well the biblical image of what God seeks to do with the true church at the end of the age.
2 Peter 1:19, So we have the prophetic word made more sure, to which you do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star arises in your hearts. Peter speaks of the “morning star” rising in the hearts of God’s people before the Lord returns. We can see the glory (the living presence of God) in the overcomer increasingly manifesting itself.
So, when we speak of the morning star, it is the actual spiritual wattage of God’s presence or God’s glory increasing in the overcomers. We know that such luminescence does not emanate from ourselves; it comes from our union with the Lord Jesus, and it is worked in us through the Holy Spirit as we grow into full conformity with Christ’s image and His Words.
These overcomers will be positioned, like the morning star - in the right place at the right time - and they will herald Christ’s return. They will come from every nation, people, tribe and tongue, yet they will be one, for Christ will have given them His glory (John 17:22). Isaiah 60:1, Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
It will be seen therefore that the overcomer possesses two present blessings as his stay and support, while waging conflict with the powers of evil and corruption around and holding fast what he has in expectation of the Lord’s return. The first is, the light of the coming sovereignty of our Lord over the kingdoms of this world (see Rev. 11: 15), and of his own association with Christ in that day; and, secondly, the gift of the morning star.
There is no interval indicated between the Morning Star and the Sun of righteousness shining forth in His strength. As the beauteous rays of the morning star can be often discerned in the heavens even while the sun is arising above the eastern horizon. Before the glory of the Sun of righteousness would shine upon the morning star, God will keep them from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth (Rev. 3: 10).
WHITE RAIMENT AND THE BOOK OF LIFE:
Rev 3:5, He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
This white raiment represents justification. It is a robe without a spot perfect and Royal; whiter than any white we’ve ever seen. It is Christ’s robe of righteousness, and it comes to us through Him. He is able to impute to us, His righteousness, which is to us justification. This imputation of our Savior’s righteousness is for those who prove themselves overcomers- or more than conquerors.
The Lord has arranged that at the conclusion of our trial, and at the end of the present life, all the overcomers shall receive a new body. This new body will be a body of actual purity. Thus, as the Apostle says, we shall be clothed upon with our House which is from Heaven. At the resurrection we shall receive that body of inherent purity, without blemish, without spot, for which this robe of righteousness is a must.
2 Co 3:18, But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. It is not a matter of favoritism, but of character-development. The overcomers will have such characters that the Lord will not be ashamed of them, but will be pleased to own them in the presence of the Father and the holy angels. So, the Lord says, I will confess their names before My Father and before His angels.
More than this, we read that the Lord will not blot out their names out of the Book of Life, in which are written the names of all those who become truly the Lord’s people, those who have made with the Lord a covenant by sacrifice, all who renounce their wills, who present their bodies a living sacrifice and demonstrate their loyalty.
Rev 20:14-15, And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is not a good place to spend eternity. Yet, if they do not become the overcomers, their names will be blotted out of that Book of Life, and anyone whose name is not written in the book of life will spend eternity in the lake of fire.
Everyone should be positive (beyond all doubt) that their name is written in the book of life. Multitudes have been deceived throughout the ages, and many are still being deceived today. It may be too late before they discover, that their names were not written in the book of life. How can a person know that they have eternal life? In John 3:5-6, Jesus said, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
John 1:13, which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. The natural birth introduces us to life. The new birth is the beginning of spiritual life, so to be born of God is to be introduced to the spiritual life, to light, to happiness, and to the favor of God. This new birth, or, to the great change in the sinner is the regeneration of his spiritual being. 1Jn 2:29, If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. The new birth doesn’t come because they were the children of Jews or because they were descended from pious parents. God is the only One who can cause a person to become born again.
PILLAR OF THE TEMPLE:
Rev. 3:12, Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, and I will write upon him my new name. A name indicating a new promise, new hopes and triumphs.
In the ancient Greek world, it was customary to place a pillar in a temple in order to honor a dignitary. Thus John is not in contradiction to the later statement omitting a Temple; rather, he may be implying that the New Jerusalem is something of a Temple itself. By comparison with all earthly Temples, including the Millennial Temple, the New Jerusalem is unique. Earthly Temples had restrictions, even for the righteous, and hid the Shekinah in an innermost chamber away from all human sight.
The New Jerusalem is exceptional in that it has no such limitations, and God’s servants shall see His face (Rev 22:4). This clearly indicates a new access without the previous restrictions given in Exo 33:20: “You cannot see My face, for no man can see Me and live!” The text explains that the reason this is possible is because the New Jerusalem cannot be defiled from within by sin because there is no curse there (Rev 22:3), nor from without, since no unclean person can enter (Rev 21:27).
Furthermore when a righteous person leaves a place, it leaves an impression. While he is in a city, he is its splendor and glory, and when he leaves it, so too does its splendor and glory leave. We learn that the righteous person is the foundation of the world (Pro 10:25). They represent the pillars upon which the entire world stands, and even if mankind does not recognize and acknowledge this, Heaven does, and it is Heaven that calls the shots in history.
Though it is true that tzaddikim act as a form of atonement for the generation that survives them (Moed Katan 28a), nevertheless the loss leaves a gaping hole in the spiritual fabric of society, thereby endangering the world in general. Historically, something always seems to go wrong in a big way after the passing of a great Torah leader.
THRONE:
Rev. 3:21, To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
We have expressed the fact that we are in the Royal Family of God. As royalty Jesus will give us the right to sit with Him on His throne as he overcame and sat down with God in His throne. Php 2:8,9, And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name.
Christ himself had met with his temptations and conflicts and he overcame them all, and was more than a conqueror. That, as the reward of his conflict and victory, he has sat down with God the Father on his throne. That those who are conformed to Christ in His trials and victories shall be conformed to Him in His glory; they shall sit down with Him on His throne, on His throne of judgment at the end of the world, on His throne of glory to all eternity, shining in His beams by virtue of their union with Him and relation to Him, as the mystical body of which He is the head.
Even the thrones of kings and queens of this world are only for a short time. Our thrones, crowns and dominion will be forever. In every case it is to him that overcometh, to the conqueror, that the final promise is made. Christ’s throne and the throne of the Father is the same; and it is on this same throne that those who are faithful unto death are finally to sit! How astonishing is this state of exaltation! The dignity and grandeur of it; who can conceive?
SONS AND DAUGHTERS:
Rev 21:7, He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son, which is the same as walking after the Spirit, as opposed to walking after the flesh (Rom1:17). Significantly, the fullness of eternal inheritance at the end of this age will be realized by him that overcometh.
The word overcometh is translated from the Greek word Nikao and means to subdue. Prevailed at (Rev. 5:5); Conquer at (Rev. 6:2); and gotten the victory at (Rev. 15:2). While there is opposition to the way of the Lord, both, from within and from without, God has provided in Christ sufficient grace to overcome such opposition, not by struggling in the flesh, but through walking after the Spirit (Gal 5:16);walking in the light (1 Jon 1:7); living by faith (Rom 1:17). Faith is an inward posture of devotion and commitment to the Lord that rests on knowledge acquired by the Holy Spirit’s ministry to us in God’s Word (Rom 10:17).
Christ dwells in us by the Holy Spirit whose purpose is to lead us according to God’s thoughts by: enlightenment through the scriptures spiritual understanding; granting wisdom to discern, both, God’s will and how to accomplish it-Col 1:9. Rom 8:14, For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
Rom 8:17, And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. Saints don’t worry about what they are going through. Just fight the good fight of faith and wait until the change comes. The trials we face don’t last always. It is for a season. If we suffer with Christ we shall rule with Him. Fight on through the light afflictions which are only for a moment. Quit complaining and start rejoicing in the Lord. He has done great things for us.
THE GREAT COMPANY:
Two classes of overcomers who build upon the Rock which is Christ. 1 Cor 3:12-15, Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.
Both classes build upon the Rock which is Christ. One class builds with the biblical truth of gold, silver and precious stones. Such works stands the test of God’s consuming fire. However, another class builds their structure with wood, hay and stubble, representing perhaps vain traditions and philosophies of men. Yes, they are full of good intentions and they do build upon the Rock. God in mercy exposes their folly as their structures disintegrate in the fire.
Revelation 7:14-15, speaks of those which come out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve Him day and night in His temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. Rev. 19:9, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. Mat 25:34, Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.